faith. friendship. parenthood. life.

Your Grief, as Unique as Your Loss

I’m excited to be featured over at Chronically Whole today, with a post on the uniqueness of grief. Thanks to Stacey Philpot for hosting me!

Your Grief Journey, as Unique as Your Loss

At the ripe old age of 34, I’ve been to more funerals than most people my age. Some I’ve attended as a friend or family member, but most I’ve officiated at as a pastor. Each one has been as unique as the person who died, each has been an honor, and each has had its own lessons to teach.

Here’s what they’ve taught me about grief.

10. Everyone grieves differently

That fifteen-year-old over in the corner with his headphones in? It may not look like it, but he’s grieving. If listening to Blake Shelton helps him grieve, that’s ok.

That eighty-three-year-old who insisted on wearing a loud, flowery, possibly inappropriate dress to the funeral? It’s her way of grieving the loss of her colorful best friend.

You might cry at a funeral. You might not. You might feel right wearing black. You might not. You might cry at the grocery store checkout two weeks from now when you can’t decide whether to buy the spearmint gum or the wintergreen. You might need to wear red to the funeral and black for the next three months.